The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation that sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations of animal fat being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus during the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy administration.
The bench, consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, rejected the plea filed by K.A. Paul, a social activist and president of the Global Peace Initiative, stating, “Going by your prayer, we will have to create separate states for all temples, gurudwaras, etc. We can’t direct that a separate state be created for a particular. Dismissed.”
In his petition, Paul called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged corruption and mismanagement related to the procurement and preparation of the Laddu Prasadam, a sacred offering at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The Supreme Court had previously established a five-member independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) on October 4 to look into these allegations, emphasizing that the court should not be a “political battleground.”
The SIT consists of two officers each from the CBI and Andhra Pradesh Police, along with a senior official from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Paul’s PIL referenced allegations made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who claimed that substandard ingredients, including adulterated ghee, were used in the preparation of the laddus.
Paul argued that these accusations have raised serious concerns among devotees and have tarnished the sanctity of this revered offering.
The petition highlighted the growing communal tensions and violations of fundamental religious rights, citing Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. Paul stated, “The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is one of the biggest sites for Hindus around the world. The Laddu Prasadam holds immense religious and cultural significance for all Hindus.
Any compromise on its sanctity affects millions of devotees and tarnishes the reputation of this institution.”
The controversy was sparked by Naidu’s claims regarding the use of animal fat in the laddus, which led to a significant political uproar. The ruling YSR Congress Party accused Naidu of making “heinous allegations” for political gain, while the Telugu Desam Party circulated a laboratory report to support its claims.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the PIL reinforces the notion that allegations surrounding religious offerings must be handled with care, particularly in the politically charged environment of Andhra Pradesh.
